Head-starting programs raise sea turtle hatchlings in protected conditions to increase their survival past the most vulnerable early life stage before release.
Head-starting raises welfare questions about the trade-off between captive welfare costs and survival benefit. Hatchlings held in captivity experience captive conditions that differ from their natural environment, and some welfare deficits from holding are inevitable. The welfare benefit — dramatically improved survival through the most dangerous life stage — justifies the approach when captive conditions are well managed and release to appropriate habitat is achieved. Long-term tracking data demonstrating breeding success in released head-started turtles validates the approach.